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White Sox plan to explore utility infielder options

White Sox plan to explore utility infielder options

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Carlos Sanchez

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NASHVILLE -- If the 2013 season started this week, then Minor Leaguers Carlos Sanchez or Tyler Saladino stand as the prime utility infield candidates under White Sox control. Of course, the season does not start in early December, giving general manager Rick Hahn time to work on solidifying this area among others.

"We've been talking to both Major League free agents and Minor League free agents," Hahn said. "But that's an area that needs to be addressed."

Hahn seemed hesitant to take the 20-year-old Sanchez to the Majors as a starter, let alone a reserve, after just 158 at-bats above the Double-A level. It's a discussion to be re-evaluated in Glendale, but Hahn still believes that the best thing for Sanchez's development is to get more at-bats at Triple-A.

Brent Morel stands on the fringe of the utility mix, with 17 games at shortstop for Charlotte in 2010 marking the only games of his professional career away from third. But Hahn wants Morel to focus on continued back health above all else, with the 2012 Opening Day starter at third recently telling MLB.com that his back feels healthy for the first time since before last Spring Training.

"I don't want to put too much on Brent Morel right now, other than getting healthy and doing what he has to do to get his problems behind him," Hahn said. "If he is 100 percent healthy come Glendale and doing all the drills, and in Spring Training games without restrictions and feeling good, we will absolutely see just like any other infielders with versatility if he could potentially help us in addition to third base."